Refrigeration



y 1944- G. M. BLOMQVIST ETAL. 2,348,596

REFRIGERATION Filed Nov; 2, 1957 2 Sfieets-Sh eet 1 u I]? if! 22 INVENTORS Mhmmm SUIM.

' w whumomay operate in a scissors-like manner.

and a tray or between a sectional view similar to Patented May 9,

REFRIGERATION Gustav Marten Blomqvist and Stars Folke Torstensson, Stockholm, Sweden, assignors; by

mesne assignments; to Servel, Inc.,

New York,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 2, 1937,- Serial No. 172,340 In Germany November 10, 1936 i v 19 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly to ice trays and grids for use in the production of ice cubes in refrigerators.

It is an objectof this invention to provide an improved grid which can easily be ejected from a tray to break the ice bond between the tray and ice cubes frozen therein. This is accomplishedby providing a grid having partitions to-form ice cells and including two members forming a parti-v tion which are pivotally connected together to The two members pivotally connected together preferably form the longitudinal partition of the grid and serve as lever arms of mechanism to eject the a tray.

tition to remove the grid from a tray. The force multiplying device, such as a lever, may be arranged to cooperate between one of the members the pivotally connected members. I

It is another object of this invention to provide a grid of this character which is flexible and from which a desired number of ice cubes can easily be removed by twisting or bending the grid after it has been removed from a tra grid from I (Cl. tie-108.5)

the sidewalls'is provided an outward extending flange I2. 7

The grid Ill comprises a pair of abutting walls or members I4 and which form a longitudinal partition extending between the end walls of the tray II.

and I! are secured to the walls It and I5, as by spot welding, for example, to provide transverse partitions which extend to'the longitudinal side walls of the tray ii. I

.The longitudinal walls is and I5 are pivotally connected together at one end at is, as by a pin or rivet, and the opposite ends are each provided with separate handles l9 and 20. The pivotally connected ends of the walls It and ii are provided with reinforcing members 28 and 22 to in- I crease the bearing surface of the portions of the The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and of which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a grid and tray embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the grid and tray shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a grid illustrating a modification of the invention; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the grid shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrates a further modification in which a grid is provided with a lever which cooperates with a tray; Fig. 6--is a plan view of a grid and tray illustrating a still further modification in which one part of the grid is provided with a.

force multiplying lever which cooperates with another part of the grid; Fig.7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7? of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a its raised position.

Referring to Fig. 2, a grid III is shown Dositioned'in'a shallow ice tray ll having a resilient bottom and side walls. The tray is made of a suitable metal, such as aluminum or stainless ,Fig. 7 with the lever in grid which contact the tray H when the grid is removed from the tray. 3

In using the grid just described, the grid is positioned in the tray and the latter is filled with water. After the water has been frozen and ice cubes have been produced by placing the tray in .a cooling element of a refrigerator, the tray is removed from the cooling element.

In order to remove ice cubes from the tray H, one of the longitudinal walls It or it is raised by means of its associated handle lsor 20. It the longitudinal wall I is raised, for example, it turns about the pivotal connection It with the extreme right-hand end bearing against the bottom of the tray at 23. The pivotal connection I8 is raised upward whereby the longitudinal wall [5 is raised and the ice bond is readily broken between'the tray and ice cubes. In operating the grid, therefore, walls It and [5 are angularly moved with respect to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about an axis coinciding with the pivotal connection [8.

The grid ill may be arranged to distort an end wall of the tray when one of the members It or is is raised. As shown in Fig. 1, whenthe longitudinal wall M is raised, the right-hand edge 24 bears against the end wall of the tray. The force exerted by the wall l4- against the end wall causes deformation of the latter and assists in breaking the ice bond between the tray and ice cubes..

A force ,multiplylng device may be employed to raise. one of the longitudinal walls It or l5,

As shown in Fig. 5, such a device may consist 1 of a'leverli which is pivoted at 26 to the longitudinal wall It, The lever 25 normally is disposed in a horizontal plane with the outer end 21 projecting beyond an end'wall of the tray II.

By providing the lever 25 which cooperates with tudinal wall It.

The advantage of a grid of this character is that parts of the grid form a mechanism for removing the grid from a tray. Since the pivotal connection It is at one end of the grid, a greater part of the longitudinal wall II is available as a lever arm when it is raised. The force developed or used to raise the longitudinal wall M is multiplied or increased to effect raising of the longitudinal wall 15 because of the scissorslike cdnnection of the longitudinal walls. Since the initial force exerted to remove the grid is multiplied through parts of the grid structure, considerably less force is required to remove a grid of this character than in the usual type of grid in which no force multiplication takes place.

In Figs. 3 and4 is shown a modification of the embodiment just described in which the abutting longitudinal walls of the gridare flexible. The flexible grid shown includes a plurality of L- shaped members 28 arranged 'to form abutting longitudinal walls and a plurality of spaced transverse partitions or dividing members 29. The sides of the L-shaped members 28 forming portions of the longitudinal walls are provided with outward turned ends 30. In the sides 29 and ends 30 of the L-shaped members 28 are provided vertical slots through which extend flex.- ible metal strips 3| which are about one-third the height of the partitions. The strips 3| are located close to the longitudinal walls of the grid and may be secured at their ends, as by welding, to the end L-shaped members 28. The longitudinal walls are pivotally connected together at one end at 32, and the other ends may be provided with handles or a force multiplying lever, as shown in Fig. 1 or 5. As in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the end L-shaped members 28 adjacent the pivotal connection 32 are provided with reenforcing members 33 and 34.

The flexible grid of Figs. 3 and 4 is removed above in connection with the grids of Figs. 1 and 5. After the grid has been removed from a tray with the ice cubes clinging thereto, one part of the grid may be turned 180 with respect to the other part of the grid. The ice cubes are readily released by flexing of the grid. In many instances it only desired to remove a few ice cubes. With the flexible grid of Figs. 3 and 4, one part of the grid can be flexed sufliciently to remove the desired number of ice cubes, and thereafter the grid maybe replaced in the tray .with theremaining ice cubes adhering thereto.

In order to prevent inadvertent loosening of ice cubes from thegrid, each transverse partition may be provided with a projection 35 which is punched outof wrside wall 29, as shown in Fig. 3. Openings 36 may be formed in the side walls 23, as alsorshown Fig. v3, whereby adjacent ice cubes are partly frozen together. The openings 36 preferably are of such size that the ice cubes will normally cling to the grid and at the same shown in Figs, 3 and 4. The right-hand ends of the strips 3| are secured to the end L-shaped members 23 at the pivotal connection 32 and the left-hand ends are secured at 31 to the other end L-shaped members 28, as by spot welding, for example.

The grid of Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive further includes a lever 38 which is substantially the length of the grid and is pivotally connected at 33 to an end bf one of the longitudinal walls. The lever in Fig. 8, and in its horizontal position the horizontal arm thereof is spaced from the longitudinal wall to which it is not connected.

When the lever" is first raised by the handle ML'the portion of the horizontal arm at the end adjacentthe pivotal connection 33 bears against one of the longitudinal walls of the grid. With continued upward movement of lever 38, the longitudinal wall to which it is connected is raised.

This-raises the pivotal connection 32 which operatively connects the two parts of the grid, whereby the other longitudinal wall is also raised and the ice bond is broken between the tray and ice cubes frozen therein.

In addition to the reenforcing members 2| and 22 in Fig. l and reenforcing members 33 and 34 in Fig. 4 the tray II may also be provided with reenforcing members at the regions against which the longitudinal walls bear when the grid is removed from the tray. Instead of providing reenforcing members, the tray may be hardened at the regions subjected to wear.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appar-, ent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that certain features may be employed independently of others, as pointed out in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A grid for refrigerators having partitions to I form ice cells and comprising a double walled.

partition including two members in side by side from a tray in the same manner as described relation and closely adjacent tov each other, and means pivotally connecting said members intermediate the ends thereof so that said members are angularly movable with respect toeach other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about an axis coinciding with the pivotal connection.

2. For use in a shallow ice tray of ice freezing apparatus, a grid including a longitudinal partition and spaced transverse partitions, said lonitudinal partition comprising two members pivotally connected togetherat one end of the partition so that said members are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about an axis coinciding with the pivotal connection.

3. A grid for refrigerators including a longitudinal partition comprising two members in side by side relation throughout theirlength, transverse partitions carried by said longitudinal par- 'tition, and means pivotally connecting said members together at a region intermediate the ends "of said partition and between the upper and lower edges thereof so that said members are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about the pivotal connection.

4. A grid for use in a shallow ice tray and including transverse partitions and a double partition whereby, when said grid is fitted a tray, lifting force applied to one wall is transmitted by said wall to said'means and thence to the other of said walls to effect lifting of ,the other wall and relative movement between said walls.

5. A flexible grid for refrigerators havingpar- 'titions to form ice cells and comprising a double walled partition including two flexible members in side by side relation and closely adjacent to each other, and meansrto pivotally connect said members intermediate the ends thereof so that said members are angularly movable-with re-. spect to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about an axis coinciding with the pivotal connection.

6. For use in a shallow tray of ice freezing apparatus, a grid including spaced transverse partitions and a double walled longitudinal partition, the walls of said longitudinal partition being flexible and pivotally connected together adjacent one end of said longitudinal partition so that said walls are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about an axis coincid ing with the pivotal connection.

7. A grid as set forth in claim 6, in which at least one of said transverse partitions is providedwith a projection to prevent inadvertent loosening of ice. clinging thereto before the walls of said longitudinal partition are angularly moved with respect t each other.

8. A grid as set forth'in claim 6, in which at least one of said transverse partitions has an i opening therein to permit an ice bond to be formed between adjacent ice blocks on opposite sides thereof. I

9. A grid for refrigerators. having partitions to form ice cells and comprising a double walled partition including two members in side by side 4 relation and closely adjacent to each other, means to pivotally connect said members intermediate theends thereof so that said members are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relation in'a, scissors-like manher about an axis coinciding with the pivotal connection, and means to moveone. of said membrs relativeto the other.

10. A grid for use in a shallow ice tray and including transverse partitions and a longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition comprising. two. memberspivotally connected together adjacent one end of said longitudinal partition so that said members are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about, an axis coinciding with the pivotal connection, and a-ieverpivotally connected to one of said members at the opposite end of said longitudinal partition (and operative to move one of said members relative to the other. i

11. In ice. freezing apparatus, the combination ofia tray, a grid removably fitting in said 4 trayand including spaced transverse partitions and a longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition comprising two m'embers-pivotally conf nected together so that said members are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relationdn a'scissors-like manner nection, and aforce multiplying device to effect lmovement of "oneo'f said members relative to the other. g

12. For use'ina shallow ice tray of ice freezing apparatus, a grid including transverse partitions 1 into and a double walled longitudinal partition, and means so pivotally connecting the walls of said longitudinal partition that, when said grid is fitted in the tray, lifting of only one wall adjacent one end produces leverage effect to cause lifting of the other wall.

13. For use in a shallow ice tray of ice freezing apparatus, a grid including transverse partitions and a double-walled longitudinal partition, means operatively connecting said walls adjacent one end of said longitudinal partition so that said walls are angulariy movable relative to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner, and meansato so lift one of said walls at the other end that, whensaid grid is fitted in the tray, a greater part of said lifted wall is effective as a lever arm of force multiplying mechanism embodied in said grid to produce leverage effect to cause lifting oflihe other wall.

14. In ice freezingyapparatus, the combination of a. shallow ice tray, a grid removably fitting insaid tray and including spaced transverse partitions and a double walled longitudinalpartition, said longitudinal partition comprising two members pivotally connected. together so that said members are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relation. in a scissors-like manner about an axis coinciding with the'pivotal connection, and means cooperating with said tray and one of said members to'eifect relative movement of said members.

15. A grid adapted to fit in a shallow tray for producing ice pieces and, comprising wall structure including a double walled partition comprising two members in side by side relation, said members havingopenings intermediate the ends thereof, said openings being disposed between the upper and lower edges of said inembers and at a distance from but nearer one end of said partition than the opposite end, means including a pin extending through said openings for pivotally connecting said members, and a handle connected to an opposite end of one ofsaid members for raising said one member with respect to theother of said members.

16. In ice freezing apparatus, the combination of a tray, a grid-removably fitting in said tray and including vertical partitions to form ice cells, one of said partitions comprising two walls or 3 members arranged inslde'by side relation, structure providing an operative connection between said walls, said structure being so arranged as 17. In ice freezing apparatus, the combination of 5 shallow tray,"a grid removably fitting into" said tray and including transverse partitions and a double-walled longitudinal partition, structure providing an operative connection between the walls of saidlongitudinal partition, said structure being-so arranged as to maintain said walls in said relation and being so, located that when lifting force is exerted on one of said walls when the gridis fitted in said tray, said lifting force is transmitted to said other about an-axjs cdinciding with the pivotal conwall to effect lifting of such other'wall and relative movement between said walls, and a member connected to said onewall and arranged to cooperate with said tray to produce saidlifting force. 1 r

18. In icefreezingapparatus, the combination of a shallow tray, a grid removablv fitting into fitted in said tray, said lifting force is transmitted to said other wall to eflect lifting of such other wall and relative movement between said walls, and a member connected to said one wall arranged to cooperate with said other wall to produce said lifting force.

of said longibeing so ar- 19. In ice freezing apparatus, the combination of a tray, a grid removably fitting in said tray and including a longitudinal partition and spaced transverse partitions carried thereby, said longitudinal partition comprising two members pivotally connected together so that said members are angularly movable with respect to each other into overlapping relation in a scissors-like manner about an axis coinciding with the pivoted connection, and a force multiplying device, to effect movement of one of said members relative to the other.

GUSTAV MARTEN BLOMQVIST. STURE FOLKE TORSTE'NSSON. 

